The Duke and Miss Denny (Zebra Regency Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joy Reed (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998 | Series: Zebra Regency Romance

Some might disapprove, given their difference in rank, but the Duke of Ashland was charmed by Miss Judith Denny. However, Miss Denny believed his grace to be far beyond her station, and vowed to govern her heart. Between Judith's natural modesty and the ladies of the "ton" who were after Ashland's title, these two willful hearts were caught up in a reckless and whimsical game that could only by called love. A Regency romance original.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Zebra Books (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821759310
• ISBN-13: 978-0821759318
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,271,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful story with charming characters - excellent!, April 22, 2005

By 

Susan Smith (A small rural village in the English Midlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Duke and Miss Denny (Zebra Regency Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

I read a reference to this novel at one of the romantic fiction review sites and ordered a secondhand copy to see for myself if it was "up to snuff" as they say! Oh, yes indeed! What a surprise! I love well-written stories with characters who can capture my imagination by virtue of being believeable, a little flawed and possessed of good conversation. A small point: Our heroine is always referred to by the author as "Miss Denny" - a little bit of formality that helped plant the story firmly in Regency soil.

Briefly, Miss Judith Denny's sister, Lady Spicer, has married well and is hosting Miss Denny for the season. Miss Denny, being the daughter of a country vicar, is not particularly ambitious. Indeed, her sister's marital problems (excellently portrayed) make her keen to secure the right sort of relationship for herself. And, in the kindest and mildest way, she is keen to facilitate a rapproachement between Lord and Lady Spicer.

One night, she meets James, Duke of Ashland. An incredibly wealthy and powerful man, the Duke is nonetheless a man of excellent character: honest and humble and in no way impressed by his own self-worth. Indeed, he shies away from the pomp and ceremony of his position and is very much attracted to the plain spoken, kindly and serene Miss Denny. The conversations between them are a joy to read.

There is no real "crisis" in the story; no "alarums and excursions" as Georgette Heyer used to mention. Although Miss Denny hesitates to accept a man whom she views as out of her league, because both of them are honest and direct, they are clearly destined for each other - and they both know it in their hearts.

I recommend this highly. Exquistely written with characters who engage and entertain - you feel you would like to know them personally. One reviewer commented that she has read this book many, many times. It's definitely going on my keeper shelf to be enjoyed again and I shall seek out other novels by Joy Reed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A happy, enjoyable reading experience., July 11, 2007

By 

J. Lesley "(Judy)" (Midsouth, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Duke and Miss Denny (Zebra Regency Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have recently found myself to be rather disenchanted with the current crop of favored romantic fiction authors so I have decided to step back in time to look for different reading options. One of the new authors I've discovered is Joy Reed. I enjoyed reading this book so much I think I will look into the used book market for more of her work. This book was written in 1998 so it is probably considered to be very old fashioned in its composition. There are no sex scenes. There are only two times in the book when the hero and heroine kiss. The enjoyment of this book is dependent on the reader making a connection with the lead characters.

Miss Judith Denny is the daughter of a vicar from a very small town. She is in London for a season under the sponsorship of her sister Fanny, Lady Spicer. Judith's idea is to enjoy each and every aspect of her time in London. She is not the one who is counting on her making a great match but her sister thinks the season will have been a failure if Judy doesn't find a husband. Lady Spicer is so full of all the "must do's" and "must not's" for Judith that it is almost impossible for Judy to remain true to her own personality. When Judy meets the Duke of Ashland she is herself, which intrigues him, then she tries to be "correct" which confuses him. Judy discovers that she can only be herself. Besides, a Duke would never be interested in her, would he?

James, the Duke of Ashland, was immediately drawn to Miss Denny because she was the most natural person he knew. They began by being friends, then they fell in love. He knew he had fallen in love with her but they both had obstacles to overcome before their relationship could move on to marriage. He was a lovely character for me. He had all the potential to be a complete snob, even in the beginning before meeting Judith, but that is not how Ms Reed portrayed him. We always saw him as a very natural, nice man. I really liked him a lot. I liked Judy for the same reasons.

This is not a Regency where you will find kidnappings, jewel thieves, highwaymen, the BIG misunderstanding, or any spitfire heroine. This is a book about a man and woman meeting, beginning to like each other as people, and then falling in love. In a word, realistic!

I enjoyed the writing, it was Jane Austen like but never difficult to understand or follow. A good, old fashioned love story. Super entertainment.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very well done novel, April 1, 1999

By 

Mark E. Summers "Gamekrazy" (Altoona, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Duke and Miss Denny (Zebra Regency Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was deeply impressed and immersed in this novel from the time I picked it up, and began reading it. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the fact that there was about a 40 page span during the middle that slowed down the progress of the plot, and the momentum of the story. Otherwise, it was a delightful read, with a truly lovely heroine, and a dashing, if at sometimes bewildered hero. Overall, a wonderful story about two people falling in love, and about bringing back together two people who don't seem to realize they are still in love. The last is a little sidebar going on during the course of the main characters love story.